A doubling in the number of new houses proposed by developer Midas Homes at Browhill Ridge, Heathfield, has angered residents and sparked fears for the future of the new school on the same four-acre site.

The original application by Devon County Council for 12 houses off Musket Road was approved by Teignbridge council in February but a new application submitted last month by Midas Homes has now doubled this to 24.

In addition, unexplained delays to the start of the clearance for the school's site has added to residents' concerns that Midas – which is believed to be buying about half the site from Devon county council – is planning to take over the whole plot to develop it as a mixed private and social housing project.

Musket Road resident Tracey McMahon, whose house is immediately next to the development site, said: 'We believed that the houses were all to be in keeping with the existing properties and that they would be built on land owned by the county council with the contracts to build put out to tender.

'Now we learn that something else altogether is possibly going to happen and we can't get to the bottom of it. We are absolutely gutted and fear that the character of the area could be adversely affected through over development.'

Another Musket Road resident, Sam Jones, said that approximately 60 neighbours had signed a petition against the increased development within three hours of them first being made aware of the application on Tuesday.

She said: 'It just looks as though we're being short changed as usual and the school pushed to the back. The new houses will all be squashed into the site and the additional traffic will add to problems we already have with the lack of a safe children's play area.'

Mrs Jones also questioned whether the area's existing schools could cope should more children move in as the development progresses, a situation which would clearly be made even worse should the new school not now be built.

Bovey town and Teignbridge district councillor Anna Klinkenberg was upset to hear of the new application and echoed the views expressed by the residents.

She said: 'I'm very disappointed with the increase in the number of homes proposed because the residents of Heathfield had accepted a small increase to offset the cost of the land.

'The town council will meet on Monday to consider the application and members of the public are welcome to attend, although I must remind them that at this stage they are not entitled to speak, but they will be able to hear the views of the councillors. I would urge anyone who feels strongly about the matter to contact the district council's planning office.'

Other concerns expressed regarding the application is that it will require the felling of more trees so reducing the noise protection offered against the nearby A38 and A382 Bovey Straight.

In a letter which accompanied the application, the company's Rod Stone stated: 'We have been working in close cooperation with Devon County Council Education Department with regards to this application and coordinating their road positions and requirements with this scheme.'

Neither Devon County Council, nor Teignbridge Council would commented on the rumours.

St Catherine's School headteacher Maureen Bailey said yesterday that the school should open by January 2005. The government would fund 90 per cent of the costs, with a further grant from the county, the rest to be paid by govenors. There would be a funding campaign to achieve the school's share.

The planning application on part of the school site had no relevance, being a separate project, she said.

The first likely date upon which the council could consider the new application is November 17.